Town of Phil Campbell still recovering 3 years later

The mayor of Phil Campbell addresses a crowd on the 3-year anniversary. (Source: WBRC video)

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -

In the Franklin County town of Phil Campbell, the debris is gone, but scars still remain in one of Alabama's hardest hit areas.

More than 2 dozen people died when an EF-5 tornado tore through the town. Since then, the community and volunteers from across the country have pitched in to rebuild.

"It goes by fast. We are still really trying to clean up. We've got some structures that need to be cleaned up," said Phil Campbell Mayor Steve Bell.

The town is working on some new apartment housing and a new school is about 75% complete. Last Thursday on Good Day Alabama, we talked with a filmmaker who made a documentary about 20 men from all over the nation and a few other countries, who descended on Phil Campbell to help with recover and rebuilding. You can see it at imwithphil.com.

Lindale Fire Department's first new fire engine was purchased in January of 1945. The original fire truck ran for almost thirty years but it only carried 200 gallons of water. Needless to say the fire department has done a little upgrading since then.

Lindale Fire Department's first new fire engine was purchased in January of 1945. The original fire truck ran for almost thirty years but it only carried 200 gallons of water. Needless to say the fire department has done a little upgrading since then.